Iron Bully MTG Card
2019-05-03 - Number 240
2020-08-07 - Number 262
2022-12-02 - Number 778
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Golem |
| Abilities | Menace |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) When Iron Bully enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
"Why would someone have built ... wait, never mind. Send it to the front lines!" —Commander Grozdan
Cards like Iron Bully
Iron Bully carves out a niche within the artifacts in Magic: The Gathering due to its Menace ability and potential to buff another creature with a +1/+1 counter upon entering the battlefield. A similar artifact creature, Gingerbrute, also offers a unique form of evasion, making it unblockable except by creatures with haste. However, while Gingerbrute is more about dodging defenders, Iron Bully helps strengthen your other creatures.
Another analog is Foundry Inspector, which reduces the cost of your artifact spells, thus accelerating your strategy. Unlike Iron Bully, Foundry Inspector doesn’t contribute to the force of an individual creature but rather smooths the deployment of your entire artifact arsenal. Then there’s Myr Enforcer, a larger creature that could potentially be cast for less mana due to its Affinity for Artifacts.
In essence, while Iron Bully may not stand out for its raw power or cost efficiency, its versatility in providing menace and strengthening other creatures through +1/+1 counters makes it a sound choice in the right build, particularly in limited formats or as part of a synergistic artifact-centric strategy.
Cards similar to Iron Bully by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Iron Bully doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, it does provide minimal card advantage by including a modular ability. When you cast Iron Bully, you can place a +1/+1 counter on itself or another artifact creature you control, potentially beefing up your forces without needing an additional card.
Resource Acceleration: Iron Bully is not a source of resource acceleration in the traditional sense, as it doesn’t produce mana or hasten your access to it. However, its modest mana cost makes it a decent addition to your battlefield in the early phases of the game, allowing you to establish a presence without depleting your resources heavily.
Instant Speed: As a creature, Iron Bully doesn’t have flash and can’t be played at instant speed. What it does offer is a solid presence that can hold the fort and become especially valuable in decks that utilize artifact synergies or need additional +1/+1 counters to support larger strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: This artifact creature doesn’t inherently demand a discard upon casting, but in decks focused on leveraging modularity or using certain affinity strategies, having to potentially discard other cards to enable combos can inhibit its effectiveness.
Specific Mana Cost: Iron Bully requires three generic mana to play, which can be limiting early in the game when you’re aiming to deploy multiple spells or creatures. Its cost doesn’t help affinity for artifacts, and it doesn’t reduce in any way, unlike other artifact creatures.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Iron Bully only costs three mana, within the scope of artifact creatures, its stats are modest, and other options might provide more impact or versatility for a similar mana investment. For example, cards like ‘Silver Myr’ might be preferred for mana acceleration or ‘Perilous Myr’ for potential damage.
Reasons to Include Iron Bully in Your Collection
Versatility: Iron Bully’s modular ability adds a +1/+1 counter when it enters the battlefield, which can be pivotal in decks focusing on counter strategies or proliferate mechanics, making it a flexible addition across multiple deck archetypes.
Combo Potential: As an artifact creature, Iron Bully synergizes well with cards that interact with artifacts or counters. It’s a key piece in combinations that exploit +1/+1 counters or need an artifact on the field to kickstart a combo.
Meta-Relevance: Its low mana cost and inherent synergies allow it to adapt well to various metagames. Iron Bully can often find a place in artifact-centric decks that are prevalent in certain metas, ensuring it remains a relevant choice for collectors and competitive players alike.
How to Beat Iron Bully
Iron Bully may seem like a minor threat in MTG due to its low power, but its menace ability and the +1/+1 counter it brings to the party can sometimes catch players off guard. Countering this artifact creature efficiently requires strategic planning. Removal spells are your best friends against Iron Bully. Since it’s a creature with only one base power, spells like Fatal Push or Shatter can dispatch it without a significant investment.
Another excellent tactic is employing creatures with greater toughness to absorb the bullying. Once you put a sturdy blocker in place, Iron Bully’s menace becomes less menacing, forcing it to stay back or be traded off unfavorably. Besides, keeping an eye out for opportunities to limit your opponent’s artifact synergies is key, as Iron Bully can play a role in enhancing other creatures or various artifact-focused strategies.
Remember, disruption goes a long way against cards that rely on counters. Negating the initial placement of a +1/+1 counter or using bounce spells to reset its enhancements can tilt the scales in your favor. Anticipating the supporting cast and preparing for them can diminish Iron Bully’s impact on the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Iron Bully MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Double Masters, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Iron Bully and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Iron Bully Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Aaron Miller.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 240 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | |
| 2 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 262 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller | |
| 3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 778 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron Miller |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Iron Bully has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Iron Bully card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-08-07 | Iron Bully can be the target of its own ability. |